Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-07-30


erty. knew bS heart all the inscriptions
recently painted ON the humble wOndcn
crosses or engraved on the Stunc~ His
tumbs were his family. his friends. his
regiment and ia their midst h" prone
nadcd slowly. hahituated Ia the sound Of
hi Steps uu the sand. and his DAYS passed
in IA happy calm.
Now his happiness had vanished: sud
denly his lile. sweet. 81 uniform. had
been poisoned, anger made his blood boil.
Jean had noticed that somebody had
robbed his lomhS, All the valuable
things were di~dained: but as soon aS IA
grave was covered with rare and costly
flowers. a saCrilcgious hand. profaning the
. sacred souvenir. rohDnG l.c dead dug
the choicest plants and carried them
away.
The CowardiCe of this crime exceeded
the comprehensive power of the old ~ol-
dier. and in his brain a single idea re
: manned: To catch the thief and, =
and. he did not finish his
. sentence. hut his arm stretched itself
he threw his fist straight before him.
threatening the unknown. Around him.
breaking the end Of his cane, ne caused
the stones tn fly; then he recommended his
pr"mcualc. eXcaimng in refrain con
tanning all his rage:
/ Thunder one must he a perfect raS-
, cal
! Turning the path, Jean saw a very
small glri ambliug with unsteady step;
. she WAS SCgHtily clothed, "A rag Of Il dress
/ through the holes Of which She showed
her rosy flesh was covered with mud and
/ her stockings We're down on her heels: ner
bare feet struck big stone; the pain made
her cry; she stopped a second: then, cast
ing an inquiring glance around her, she
resumed her walk.
From far of the watchman followed
this little body that the wind lulled.
Very likelv.' said ne 10 himself. ''one
Of those Young beggarS who infeSt the
/ Cemeteries-vagahonds sent there by in
| frmnus parents to draw a few pennies
from the Kindness Of visitors" All Of a
sudden his cheek Redeemed. His eyes
shone with anger He wanted 10 speak,
but. stifled with emotion, he could not
MotionlesS, he saw the little one, bending
over grave, seize IA rosebush with
both hands. She pulled it with all her
might for a whole minute without sue
cess, then, making last effort. she I'M
rooted il.
She rose. took the rosebush and ran
straight before her, stumbling. ready TO
fall, lacerating her feet without fiinching
She heard not the painting respiration Of
the old watchman who followed her, and
who said: All, rascal, | will catch theel
thy fate is settledT'
When Jean Joined her. at the end Of
the c-metery, in what is called the com
mon burial ground otherwise the Pot
ter's field, ,he child had fallen on her
hot 81,
strangely with the surrounding ones; "a
rough wooden cross, clumsily set in the
ground, was half bent over; but around,
as on the richest tombs, some magnificent
flowers covered this grave Of the poor.
The Waterman, stupeiied, looked at this
kneeling pauperess; she murmuret, in
comprehensive words; her body was con
vulsivcly agitated by sobs; she uttered
some plaintiNe groans and big tears rolled
down her pinchcd cheeks
She raised her head, joined her hands
and her silver toned voice asCended and
reSounded strangely in the silence of the
metropolis. She said
''Our mother who is in heaven"'
She took the rosebuSh that she had
placed near her and kissed the flowers one
by one; then, with her nails. around
which small drops of blood appeared. she
dug hole. in which she deposited the
plant.
Behind her. unconscious of what he was
doing, Jean had removed his hat. but, as
if ashamed of his Sensibility, he replaced
it on his head and called himself an old
fool and deciding to end that business, he
put his hands rudely on the child's
shoulders, made her face him, and said:
Il catch You. little thief
Frightened, seeming 10 awake from
nightmare the child looked at him; she
saw his angry face and heard his big thun-
dering voice calling Eer little thief. Then
she cried alOud, wanted 10 escape, while,
paralyzed with fear, she remained as
nailed i'll the ground; her teeth chattered
and her big blue eyes rested on the old
soldier
This scene had softened the tone of his
voice; now, il seemed impossible 10 him
that this little tiny, handsome head could
belong To thief, and searching the ex-
preSsionS of her face, feari~g TO frighten
her, he put a CareSsing Election III his
words. The child did not answer his
questions; then anger reganed him and
lie raised his hand, crying to her:
Speak. or else
He did not finish his phrase. as. with
out attempting to avoid the coming blow
designed. the child bent her head, the
watChman lowered his arm and his face
turned crimson, as if he had done a bad
action.
The child moved her lips; she wanted to
speak, but the sObS strangling, smother
ing her. prevented her from articulatiug
word. Only some harsh cries. uninrelli-
Cible sounds. came out from her throat
Frustrated with emotion, She fell heavily
On her knees, stretching forth her arms,
and with her finger yet black with earth
making Il desperate gesture She showed
the grave ON which lay the roses 10 the
Watchman.
Jen:! did not comprehend; his anger was
gone before this child of sorrow: he for.
got his grief against her. took her lit his
arms and lovingly he said to her:
"Hush, hush, my dear. | will not hurt
You. look M me | am not bad man!
Hush! .io not cry any more, and tell me
why y.u take the people flowers To bring
them hv ..
T'.r cliid, rcassured by the kindness OF
Jean, with u rattling i'll her throat re-
Piled
My mamma loved the flowers SO much,
monsieur
\ sob interrupted her speech. Gather
ing all her strength, she continued:
she is dead, my mamma, mons ieur;
the men have put her in a dark hole, and
! want to bring plenty Of flowers 10 her"
And yOur father asked the watch